Green Ferrari

Never thought I would hear the two words "Ferrari" and "Green" together but as they say ...

Ferrari recently unveiled their the 599 GTB Fiorano, their HY-KERS vettura laboratorio (experimental vehicle) at the Geneva Motor Show. The car features a electric motor mated with a V12 petrol engine. The electric motor powers the power steering, power-assisted brakes, air conditioning and on-board systems.

According to Ferrari the vehicle reduces CO2 emissions on the ECE + EUDC combined cycle by 35 per cent.

Mitsubishi STRADA TRITON 2010

After the auction price bid is opened during October 2009, PT. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (KTB) finally announced Strada Triton Hiroshi Masuoka successfully sold the last bid Rp276 million.

The lucky ones get a Mitsubishi Strada Triton has ever used pereli world, Matsuoka was Feryadi Irvan, a businessman from Jakarta.

Irvan's car managed to get a special edition double cabin after previous KTB as the Mitsubishi brand holder open the initial price of Rp235 million.

Strada Triton Exceed the auction block is Strada Triton Exceed M / T, which has a view like Rally cars with the addition of a variety of accessories. These vehicles became more special with the signature of the Dakar Rally pereli Hiroshi Masuoka and Uesugi Gayu develop a Strada Triton products.

"Strada Triton of this, even once used by Masuoka at the launch of Strada Triton Exceed in Bali in May 2008," said KTB President Director Fumio Kuwayama, in a press release received Legal, Tuesday (3/11/2009).

Results from Strada Triton charity auction will be donated by the KTB fully to a non-profit foundation JEEPrograms (Jakarta Extra Education Programs) to assist the interests of education in Indonesia, especially in West Sumatra who had just hit by the earthquake and several schools built in West Java .

New Kia Sedona

As far as minivans are concerned, the Kia Sedona is at the top of the class. And this is a major accomplishment being that this class is quite crowded. Not to mention the fact that the Kia Sedona has direct competition from Toyota and Honda; both of whom have an established player in this class.

With the Kia Sedona you are getting much more than a typical minivan. If you think that the Kia Sedona is just like the rest you are wrong.

The first thing that you may notice about the Kia Sedona is the power that is driven through the front wheels. The engine in this car is a 3.8 liter V6 that puts out 244 horsepower. This is plenty of power even if the car is filled with your entire family and all of their luggage.

And if you are going to be packing your car full of people and luggage the Kia Sedona is a great option. In addition to the seven passenger seating, fitting plenty of luggage is never a problem. This makes taking long trips in the Kia Sedona a piece of cake.

The exterior look of the Kia Sedona is nothing spectacular. But at the same time it does not do anything wrong either.

Overall, the Kia Sedona is a great minivan. Prices start out at $23,000 which is class competitive. If you are looking for a minivan that can do it all without breaking the bank the Kia Sedona is an option that should be considered

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kum_Martin

Geneva Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Lotus Elise

It's hard to believe, but Lotus' pint-sized sports car has soldiered on with only minor changes for the last 10 years. For 2011, more small changes are on the way to give the Elise a fresher look for the new decade.

For the most part, styling revisions are limited to the car's front fascia. Designers sought to visually tie the Elise with the company's all-new Evora, replacing the quad headlamps with two angled lamp assemblies. The lower fascia receives a grille and side splitters that ape the Evora, while the upper air intake is also restyled for a resemblance. Side air intakes are simplified on the new model, and the engine cover has also been restyled.

To cut fuel economy and CO2 emissions, Lotus plans on offering a 1.6-liter I-4 in entry-level European-spec cars, but we wouldn't be surprised if Elises destined for North America continue to use the tried-and-true Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter four-cylinder. Expect the refreshed Elise to go on sale in Europe later this year and make its way Stateside by early 2011.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Geneva Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Lexus CT 200h

After being unceremoniously outed on the Web by a classic pre-show embargo leak, Lexus has officially taken the wraps off its new 2011 Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid, which is set to make its debut at the 2010 Geneva show.

As has been expected, the CT 200h borrows heavily from the LF-Ch concept shown at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, but the wild styling and flamed surfaces of the show car have been toned down for the production model. Instead of the large side front brake ducts of the LF-Ch concept, the CT 200h has deeply recessed fog lights to help give it a more aggressive look. The LED headlights have also been replaced with xenon units, but the car does continue to use LED lighting for daytime running lights.

At the rear of the car, the concept' s L-shaped taillights and angular rear hatch of the are no more, and Lexus also moved the rear fog lights from the concept's deep recesses to a new position, where they sit almost flush with the rear bumper skin. The center-exit dual exhaust tips remain in the same general spot, but they're substantially wider.

Inside, the CT 200h's flowing center stack is replaced by a more conventional design, but the tiered instrument panel still resembles the one used in the concept. Dark soft-touch materials are used extensively throughout the car according to Lexus, as are contrasting metallic accents. An 8-inch pop-up infotainment screen is placed at the top of the dashboard, and is operated by Lexus' new Remote Touch trackball-esque controller on the center console.

As the "h" suggests, the CT 200h is, in fact, a hybrid. If you're at all familiar with Toyota's Prius, you'll likely recognize the driveline in the CT, which pairs a 1.8-liter I-4 with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system. The CT 200h can run on electricity alone for up to 1.2 miles -- as long as you keep speeds below 28 mph. Lexus hasn't disclosed final output figures, but given its similarity to the Prius, we're expecting the net power to be around 135 hp or so.

The CT 200h's E-CVT transmission has four drive modes -- EV, ECO, Normal or Sport. As the names imply, you can take the car from super frugal to relatively sporty depending on your mood and driving style.

The hybrid hatch features a suspension design unique to the vehicle that employs a McPherson strut front with a double wishbone setup out back -- a combination that Lexus says offers drivers both superior handling and ride comfort. Components developed exclusively for the CT 200h at the front include the coil spring, shock absorber, bump stop, upper support, upper and lower insulators, and anti-roll bar.

The double wishbone rear employs lightweight trailing arm, with the coil springs and shock absorbers positioned separately in an effort to minimize intrusion into the loadspace floor. Other compenents developed exclusively for the CT 200h's rear suspension include the the coil spring, shock absorber, upper support, bump stop, hub and bearing, and anti-roll bar.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Geneva Show 2010 Highlights: 2011Kia Sportage

Having made its world debut in Geneva, the 2011 Kia Sportage will share top billing on the Kia stand at the New York Show in a few weeks' time along with the new Optima sedan.

A crisp, handsome, compact SUV designed under the direction of Peter Schreyer, the third generation Sportage is 3.5in longer, 0.6in wider and 2.4in lower than the previous model. The wheelbase has only grown by 0.4in, however. Aerodynamic drag has been cut from a Cd of 0.40 to 0.37, and weight has been cut by 200lb. Although available with all-wheel drive as well as front drive, the new Sportage is even more road biased than its predecessor, riding an inch lower to the blacktop.

The exterior design was done in Kia's southern California studio, and clearly draws on the Kue concept shown the 2007 Detroit Show. A key design element is the relationship between its high shoulders and narrow glasshouse, says Schreyer. "We've created an SUV with a sportscar-like ratio between sheet metal and glass. The side-windows are very narrow which gives you an almost rally-car feeling." The striking reverse angle C-pillar enhances the car-like side graphic. "The size, the shape and the proportion of the C-pillar determines the entire look and feel of the car," confirms Schreyer.

A unique detail is the stepped line across the top of the windshield that echoes the design elements of Kia's new corporate grille. This feature first appeared on the Kee concept unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Show. "It's crucial that we draw real design inspiration from our concept and showcars and inject that motivation into our production cars," says Schreyer.

The interior, which features striking splashes of color in some versions, is the work of designers in the company's Frankfurt studio. Black cloth is standard, and unusually, an all-black headliner can be specified. Options include part-leather and full-leather seat trim, with a choice of contrasting stitching. Base models feature a dark Gun Metal colored dashboard and centre stack, but as with the Soul buyers will be offered a number of contrasting color treatments on higher trim level models.

Manual air-conditioning is standard. The audio system for new Sportage features CD player with MP3, USB and iPod connectivity. An all-new navigation system with a 7.0-inch screen, Bluetooth and voice recognition will be offered. Other available high-tech "comfort & convenience" features include a Smart Card (for keyless entry, together with engine start/stop button), "welcome home" escort lights, Xenon headlamps, LED Daytime Running Lights and a tailgate-mounted reversing safety camera with interior mirror display monitor.

The hatch-like design means the C-pillar has been moved 7.3in rearward compared with the old Sportage, improving rear seat access. Luggage space benefits from a 2.8in increase in the rear overhang. With the rear seats upright, the cargo bay is 3.2in longer and 4.3in wider at floor level, thanks to the more compact design of the new multi-link rear suspension. Kia claims cargo capacity is among the best in class, ranging from 19.9cu ft with the rear seats occupied, to 47.8 cu ft with the rear seats folded.

Storage space within the cabin includes a larger glovebox (cooled in some models), a larger center console and four door pockets. Two large cup-holders are located between the gear selector and the centre console, while the folding centre armrest in the rear seat has twin cup-holders.

U.S.-spec Sportages will be available with a choice of four cylinder or V-6 engines, driving through a six speed automatic transmission. Traction control is standard on the FWD Sportage. The AWD drivetrain delivers 100 percent of engine torque to the front wheels, with a percentage of torque automatically transferred to the rear wheels to maintain forward momentum if wheelspin is detected. In slippery conditions - such as rain, snow, mud, unpaved roads and off-road - the driver can manually select 'Lock Mode' for better stability. This mode shares the torque equally (50%/50%), between the front and rear axles and maintains that split up to a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). Whether FWD or AWD, traction is also boosted by the available Hillstart Assist Control which prevents slipping backwards, and Downhill Brake Control which limits vehicle speed to just 5 mph on steep descents.

Steering is by way of a new electric power steering rack-and-pinion system that is speed-sensitive and requires just 2.96 turns of the steering wheel from lock-to-lock. Kia says switching from the previous model's hydraulic system to electric power assistance offers a 3.5percent improvement in fuel economy.

Both the front and rear suspension systems are mounted on a lightweight hydro-formed subframe. Up front are MacPherson struts, largely carried over from the previous model, while at the rear is an all-new multi-link system. Adjustable rear shocks are available as an option on European-spec Sportages. The new Sportage will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Geneva Show 2010 Highlights: I.D.E.A Sofia Concept

Remember that funky I.DE.A ERA roadster shown at the 2009 Geneva show? We didn't either until we were told it served as the design forerunner for the Institute's SOFIA sedan that's on display at this year's Geneva event. The female figure supposedly influenced the car's design, but we're not seeing much of that influence.

The I.DE.A Institute is a firm that claims it can handle every stage of the product development cycle from an initial sketch on up to prototype production. Designs for the Daihatsu Move and Fiat Tipo were created by I.DE.A, which is headquartered in Turin, Italy.

The SOFIA sedan is supposed to be powered by a transverse-mounted V-8 engine of unknown origin that develops up to 400 horsepower. An optional hybrid system could add another 100 horsepower to the tally and utilize lithium-polymer batteries. Interestingly enough, the sedan could be front- or rear-wheel drive and hybrids would send power to all four wheels. A hybrid SOFIA would be able to run on battery power for some distance, but I.DE.A isn't giving out many specifics on range or speed limitations in EV mode - likely because it's vaporware at this point.

Dimensionally, the SOFIA is an inch longer than a BMW 750i sedan at 200.6 inches, nearly three inches wider, and about three-and-a-half inches shorter in height, with a virtually identical wheelbase of 120.6 inches. Those dimensions should comfortably accommodate four adults and the batteries for the hybrid system.
Thanks to: Motor Trend